Burse
/bɜːrs/noun
A purse or small bag, especially one used for carrying money or documents; also a clerical purse or pouch.
Did you know?Burse and purse are ancient cousins: both ultimately trace back to a Latin word for a hide or leather pouch, showing how everyday money words were once literally about skins, bags, and carrying power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰer-
“to carry, bear”
Latin
Latin
bursa
“a hide, leather bag, purse”
Late Latin
Latin
bursa
“a purse or money bag”
Old French
Old French
bourse
“a purse, wallet; later a stock exchange”
Middle English
English
burse
“a purse or money pouch; also a clerical purse”
Modern English
English
burse
“a purse, especially a clerical or institutional money pouch”